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Lost and stolen wages compensation offer a "sick joke": O'Gorman

8 April 2003 - The President of the Australian Council of Civil Liberties has labelled the Queensland Government's offer to Indigenous people for lost and stolen wages a "sick joke" compared to compensation payouts to Jews who were persecuted during the Second World War.

Mr O'Gorman said there were valid historical comparisons to be made between the two situations, not least of all the amount of money on offer.

"If you look at the litigation that the Simon Weisenthal Institute in the US has conducted in respect of the plundered billions by the Nazis in respect of misappropriated properties, money and personal injury from Jews during the Second World War you see huge payouts that international banks are being forced to pay," Mr O'Gorman said.

"The analogy in terms of an historical event is at least comparative."

Source: National Indigenous Times

Further information: stolen wages issues page - includes news index and external links